Can-closing machine



Jan. 13, 1931. A. 1. HAMBERLAlN 1,788,659

CAN CLOSING MACHINE Filed NOV.- 26. 1925 INVENTOR Mfred J. Cbnmbeom.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED. sTA

TES PATENT OFFICE Liman .'T. emmers, or mwauxaa, wisconsin* cAN-cLosrNe momma Application mcd November 26, 18728. Serial No. 150,654,

carried from can to can and successlvely used on the cans to secure the covers to the cans in such manner` as to close and seal the cans and which is so constructed and organized that the operator of the machine may lift or carry the machine from can to can and easily a-nd quickly o rate it to secure the covers to the cans wit out changing his grip onthe machine.

Another object is to provide a portable can closing machine having those advantages and capacities and which while beingof simple and durable construction, is positive, reliable 'and convenient in operation and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufac-` ture.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and .combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part f this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view artly in diametrical ver' tical section and part y in side' elevation showing a portable can closing machine embodying the present invention. i

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in section online 2-2 of Fig. 1, with certain of the parts omitted for the sake of simplicity in illustration; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional viewshowin one way in which `the cover may be seale on the can.

Referring to the drawing wherein for the sake of illustration is shown one embodiment of the invention, it will be seen that the portable can closing machine comprises a head 1 havin the form of a plate and provided aroun 'ts periphery with a passive die 2. All

around the upper and outer portion ofthe periphery of the head 1, pairs of apertured. pivot ears 3 are provided and on these pairs of pivot e'ars 3,' active dies 4 are pivotally mounted, the dles 4 having aperturedhubs 5 receiving pivot pins 6 passing through the apertures of the hubs and the apertures of the associated pairs ofiears.v

A fixed mounting shaft 7 is carried by the head, the shaft 7 having a reduced lowerend 8 received inan apertured boss 9 provided therefor on the head 1. A nut 10 is threaded on the reduced end-8 of the shaft 7 and is engaged with the head 1 or with a washer interposed between the nut 10 ofI the head 1 for the purpose of securing themounting `shaft 7 fixed on and rigid'with the vhead 1. .As shown in the drawin s, the nut 10 is releivad in a recess provi ed therefor in the ea l .An actuatin member designated generally at 11 is rovi ed yand has a bearing portion 12 of tu ular form, the bearing rtion 12 bei-ng slidably fitted on the sha 7. This actuating member also hasa downwardly and outwardly extending or Haring body portion 13 which may be recessed or cutaway as at 14 to lighten it, and ribbed as at 15 to strengthen it. As shown, the actuating member is of substantially conical form.

Motion transmission means is provided for actuating the active die members from the actuating member and this motion' transmission means preferably comprises toggles between the lower enlarged end of the actuating member and the active dies. Each -toggle preferably comprises an arm 16 integral with or otherwise suitably fixed to the hub 5 .of its active die 4, the arm 16 extendmg upwardly from the hub 5 `of its active die 4 and having its upper end pivotally connected as at` 17 to one end of each member of a pair of toggle links 18, the other end of each member of the pair of toggle links 18 being pivotally connected asat 19,to an apertured between the vactuating member and each active die. K

The bearing portion 12,of the actuating member is provided with diametrically opposite and longitudinally\extending slots 21 in which a pair of gear elements, preferably gear segments 22 are operatively fitted, each gear segment being pivotally connected as at 23 vto lugs 24 integrally formed' with the bearing portion 12 and extending downwardly beyond the slots 12. yThe'gear segments 22 have teeth meshing with the teeth of opposed racks 25 formed in the upper end of the fixed shaft 7. A combined operating member and handle 26 is fixed to each gear segment 22 and projects radially therefrom, the outer end of each combined operating member and handle 26 being provided with a hand grip 27.

For the purpose of limiting the movementy of the actuating member 11, the toggles 16, 18 and the active dies 4, stops 3() are integrally formed with the head 1 adjacent the ears 3 and have faces 31 engageable with the links 18 and faces 32 engageable with the arms 16.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the portable can closing machine is employed for applying a cover C to a can C and bending in under a bead or flange F of the can a suitable engaging member or members M on the cover. Usually a gasket Gr is interposed between the rim of the cover and the rim or bead of the can. Before using the portable can closing machine constituting the present invention., covers are placed in position on the cans and the machine is then brought to bear successively on the cans.' In applying the machine to the cans the head 1 is placed against the body of the cover C, as shown in Fig. 1, and in such position the passive die 2 engages the rim of the cover and the active dies 4 are po.

sitioned to be engageable with the engaging member M of the cover. At such time the actuating member 11, links 18 and arms 16 are positioned as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the actuating member being pulled upon the shaft 7, the links 18 being only slightly inwardly inclined from the vertical and the arms 16 being held substantially vertical by virtue of their engagement with the faces 32 of the stops. In handling the mal chine the operator grips the grips 27 whichl are disposed vertically and in proximity to each other when the machine is being handled After being" or carried from can tocan. placed on a can cover the grips are spread apart and pressed downwardly whereby the.

gear segments are rot-ated aboutltheir axes and are caused to roll down along their racks 25. The rolling of the gear segments advances the actuating member 15 downwardly and the downward movement of the actuating member 15 is transmitted in a positive,

direct and forcefulmanner and with mechamcal advantage'` to the active dies which bend the engaging members M of the cover into closing and sealing engagement with the under side or rim por bead of the can. The combined operating and handle members together with the gears, rack and actuating member enable a powerful and positive actuating force to be transmitted to the' dies with an easy and convenient movement on the part of the operator.

hanced by the feature of havingthe elongated and downwardly and outwardly flaring actuating member which permits of 4the use of short rigid. links between the with a self-locking effect whereby not only are the parts heldin adjusted position, but also the operator is advised that the operation has been completed. The movement of the links 18 to a position just past the dead center is limited by the engagement of the links 18 with the faces 31 of the stops 30. Figure 1 illustrates in full lines the position of the links 18 in horizontal dead center position and in dot-and-dash lines the self-locking position of the links justpast dead center.

Preferably a spring 40 is provided and en-y circles the mounting shaft 7, the spring 40 having its lower end abutting the boss 9 and having its upper end engageable with the under side of the bearing portion 12 of the actuating member 11. This spring 40 is tensioned to tend to cause the actuating member to move upwardly on the shaft 7 thereby tending to maintain the handles 27 approximatelyv to each other and the active dies 4 in idle or inactive position. This spring 40 is of such size and strength and so tentioned that it does not offer any material resistance to the operation of the device when the handles 27 are 'swung outwardly and downwardly as described.l

While the invention is shown and described as being yespecially designed and adapted for use in a porta-ble can closing machine, it isto be understood that it may be embodied in various types of can closing This effective and desirable action is contributed to and enmachines'and especiallyin a can closing machine of the base and pedestal type.- This universal adaptability is especially true of the -featuresand advantages inherent in theconhas been shown and described, of course varipivoted to the head, a mounting shaft fixed to and extending upwardly from the head,

an actuating member having a bearing por-- tion slidably mounted on the shaft, and a body portion extending downwardly and f outwardly from the bearing portion, motion transmission means between the lower end of the body portion and the active dies, racks on the saft, said bearing portion having opposed slots, gear segments operating in sald slots and rotatabl mounted on the bearing portion, and combmed handles and operating members fixed to said gear segments.

2. A can'closing machine comprising cooperating dies, an actuating member having a portion of substantially conical form and toggles between the large end of the conical portion of said actuating member and certain of the dies, said toggles including rela-I tively short links connected to the actuating member, said, links being slightly angled from the horizontal in the final phases of the v i operation.

3. A can closing machine com rising cooperating dies, an ,actuating mem er havin a portion of. substantially conical form an toggles between the large end of the conical portion of said actuating member and certain of the dies said toggles including rel- -atively short links connected to the actuating member havin member.

4. A can closing machine com risingcooperating dies, an actuating mem er having a portion of substantially conical form and toggles betweenv the large end of the conical portion of said actuating member and certain of the dies, said toggles including links connected to' the actuating member, said links being slightly angled from the horizontal in the final phases of the operation and being swingable to a self-locking position just past dead center as the operation is completed.

5. A can closing machine comprising a head carrying a passive die, active dies pivoted to the head, a sha-'ft fixed to and extending upwardly from the head, an actuating a tubuluar bearin portion slidably receivmg said shaft and aving a flaring body portion extendin downwardly and outwardly from said tu ular bearing portion, substantially upright arms fixed to the pivoted dies, and links between the lower large en'd 'of the actuating member `and the arms, said links beingangled only slightly with respect to the horizontal during the final phases of the operation. j

6. A portable can closing machine comprising a head carrying a passivedie, active dies pivoted to the head, a mounting shaft fixed to and extending upwardly from the head, an actuating member having a bearing portion slidably mounted on the shaft and a body portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the bearing portion, toggles between the lower end ofthe body portion and the active dies', said toggles including arms connected with the active dies and links between the arms and the lower end of the body por! tion, stops carried by the head and having faces engageable with the arms and faces engageable with the links whereby to limit the movement of the actuating member, toggles and active die assembly in either direction, and means for shiftingthe actuating member along its mounting shaft.

7 A' portable can closing machine comprising a head carrying a passive die, active vdies pivoted to the head, amounting shaft fixed to and extending upwardly from the head, an actuating member having a bearing portion slidably mounted on the shaft and a body portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the bearing portion, toggles between the lower end of the body portion and the active dies, said toggles including arms connected with'the' active dies and links between the arms, stops carried by the head and operable to limit the movement of the actuating member, toggles and active dies,

and means for shifting the actuating member along the mountingshaft.

8. A portable can closing machine comprising a head carrying a passive die, active dies pivoted to the head, a mounting shaft fixed to and extending upwardly from the head, an actuating member having a bearing portion slidably mounted on the shaft and a body portion extending downwardly and outwardly from the bearing portion, toggles between the lower end of the body portion and theactive dies, said toggles including arms connected with the active dies and links between the arms, stops carried by the head and operable tolimit the movement'of the actuating member, toggles and active dies, and means for shifting the actuating member along the mounting shaft and comprising racks formed on the shaft, gear segments pivf otally mounted on the actuating member and cooperable with the racks, and combined handles and operating members fixed to said gear segments.

9. A portable can closing machine for use in securing a cover to a can and comprising a head plate adapted to engage the cover of a can, dies pivoted on said head plate, a mounting shaft structure having its lower end secured to the plate and extending upwardly from the plate and provided with fixed racks on its opposite faces, a die actuating member having a bearing portion slidably mounted on the shaft structure and having a body poriso tion extendingV outwardly from the bearing portion, links connecting the lower end of the body portion and said dies, gear elements roi tatably mounted on the actuating member 5 and meshed with the racks to roll therealong and combined handles and operating members fixed at their inner ends to the gear elements and extending radially therefrom and operable when spread to actuate the dies and when moved toward each other to retract the dies and facilitate the transportation of the machine from one can to another.

In witness whereof I hereto aix my signature. Y ALFRED J. CHAMBERLAIN. 

